Wilcox, 63, the former small screen state trooper, was sentenced to three years' probation today in a Florida federal court on a securities fraud conviction.

The Securities and Exchange Commission says Wilcox was involved in kickback scams run by more than a dozen penny stock promoters. They were caught in an FBI undercover sting operation offering to pay kickbacks to pension-fund managers or stockbrokers for using clients funds to buy penny stocks.

A tearful Wilcox told the judge he is broke as his wife sat in the courtroom sobbing.